Laser beam pool ball teaching method

ABSTRACT

A laser beam pool ball teaching method employs a laser-beam generator ( 2 ) on a pool table ( 1 ) to direct a laser beam ( 9, 10 ) from the laser-beam generator to beam a desired laser-beam spot ( 4 ) on a pool ball ( 5 ) on the pool table to be impacted by a cue ball ( 6 ) that is impelled from a cue-ball position on the pool table by a cue with which the cue ball is struck by a pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to a pool-table target ( 7, 8 ) intended by the pool player. For beaming the desired laser-beam spot, the laser-beam generator is placed on the pool table at a position from which the laser beam can be directed to the desired laser-beam spot and be seen effectively by the pool player from a player position from which the pool player impels the cue in accordance applicable pool-playing rules. The desired laser-beam spot is determined by experience, skill, vector analysis and computer-aided calculation selectively. Computer controls can be applied with a computerized controller ( 3 ) in computer communication with the laser-beam generator.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Our invention lies in the field of pool and billiards games anduses a unique method of teaching novices and experienced pool andbilliards players how to put a ball into a pocket, which is the ultimategoal of every game of pocket billiards and pool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Our invention uses a laser beam. The laser beam generator isabout 2 inches long and has a diameter of about five-eighths of an inch.The laser beam is powered by a lithium battery in the generator whichalso has an on/off switch. The generator is held in an adjustablefixture designed to be mounted on the raised railing which surrounds thegreen felt playing surface of the pool table.

[0003] There is one point on the surface of each pool ball which, if itis struck by the cue ball, will positively go into the intended pocket.The fixture holding the laser generator is positioned on the railing sothat the generator is lined up with the ball which the pool player wantsto put into the intended pocket. The pool player turns the generator onand a bright red laser beam ends at the spot on the surface of the poolball which should be struck by the cue ball to insure that the pool ballwill roll into the intended pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0004] This invention is described by appended claims in relation todescription of a preferred embodiment with reference to the followingdrawings which are explained briefly as follows:

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an American Billiard table showingits dimensional relationships and most common size;

[0006]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1,showing material makeup of a billiard or pool table;

[0007]FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of a laser-beam generator;

[0008]FIG. 4 is a front view of the FIG. 3 illustration;

[0009]FIG. 5 is the FIG. 3 illustration with addition of a computerizedcontroller for direction of laser-beaming a laser beam spot to a poolball;

[0010]FIG. 6 is the FIG. 4 illustration with addition of thecomputerized controller for direction of laser-beaming the laser beamspot to the pool ball;

[0011]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a first example of use of this method forexecuting a relatively straight-line shot; and

[0012]FIG. 8 is a plan view of a second example of use of this methodfor executing a relatively off-centered or “side” shot with “English”for a lateral or backward shot.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Listed numerically below with reference to the drawings are termsused to describe features of this invention. These terms and numbersassigned to them designate the same features throughout thisdescription. 1. Pool table 2. Laser-beam generator 3. Computerizedcontroller 4. Laser-beam spot 5. Pool ball 6. Cue ball 7. End pocket 8.Side pocket 9. First-example laser beam 10. Second-example laser beam

[0014] This method is practiced on a pool table 1 shown in FIGS. 1-2 and7-8 by use of a laser-beam generator 2 shown in FIGS. 3-6 with additionof an optional computerized controller 3 shown in FIGS. 5-6.

[0015] The laser-beam generator 2 is placed at a desired spot-sitingposition selectively on the pool table 1. A laser-beam spot 4 islaser-beamed from the laser-beam generator 2 to a desired impact spot onthe pool ball 5 on a playing surface of the pool table 1. The desiredimpact spot is situated to cause the pool ball 5 to travel to apool-table target. A cue ball 6 is then impelled from a cue-ballposition on the pool table 1 by a cue, which is not shown, with whichthe cue ball 6 is struck by a pool player, also not shown, for causingthe pool ball 5 to travel to the pool-table target.

[0016] In a first example shown in FIG. 7, the pool-table target is anend pocket 7. In a second example shown in FIG. 8, the pool-table targetis a side pocket 8.

[0017] In the FIG. 7 first example, the pool ball 5 is in nearly astraight line between the cue ball 6 and the end pocket 7. Impacting thepool ball 5 centrally with the cue ball 6, however, would cause the poolball 5 to miss the end pocket 7. Instead, the pool ball 5 must beimpacted at near precisely a desired impact spot that is off-centeredslightly on a ball side that is opposite the pool-table target asdepicted on the pool ball 5 by a position of the laser-beam spot 4 thatis laser-beamed with a first-example laser beam 9.

[0018] In the FIG. 8 second example, the pool ball 5 is obtusely out ofline between the cue ball 6 and the side pocket 8. Impacting the poolball 5 centrally with the cue ball 6, therefore, would cause the poolball 5 to travel in a direction away from, not towards, the pool-tabletarget and miss the side pocket 8 widely. Instead, the pool ball 5 mustbe impacted at very precisely a desired impact spot that is off-centeredhighly on a ball side that is opposite the pool-table target as depictedon the pool ball 5 by a position of the laser-beam spot 4 that islaser-beamed with a second-example laser beam 10. The laser-beam spot 4of the second example is off-centered sufficiently to cause the poolball 5 to travel slightly backwards laterally to the side pocket 8.

[0019] Ascertaining impact spots on pool balls 5 effectively for beingimpacted with the cue ball 6 for causing the pool ball 5 to travel tothe pool-table target reliably requires considerable skill, knowledge,analysis or great ingenuity, not just luck. This is in addition tohighly cultured skill in impacting the cue ball 6 with the cue to hitthe desired impact spot accurately and reliably. This invention providesteaching methods for both.

[0020] Ascertaining the desired impact spot on the pool ball 5 can belearned from experience, from vector analysis and mathematicalcalculation and from both. Ascertainment thereof can becomputer-programmed and transmitted to the computerized controller 3 forcomputer-aided control of laser-beaming the laser-beam spot 4 to thepool ball 5. Aids can be provided also for assisting in learning how tohit the cue ball 6 for effective utilization of the laser-beam spot 4.This invention provides evaluation of skills and abilities to ascertainand to execute pool-shot objectives.

[0021] The pool-table targets for pool objectives using this inventioncan be related to pocketing balls in Pocket Billiards, to impactingballs in Carom Billiards or to other variations of billiard games.

[0022] A new and useful laser beam pool ball teaching method having beendescribed, all such foreseeable modifications, adaptations,substitutions of equivalents, mathematical possibilities of combinationsof parts, pluralities of parts, applications and forms thereof asdescribed by the following claims and not precluded by prior art areincluded in this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A laser beam pool ball teaching method comprisingthe following steps: placing a laser-beam generator at a spot-sitingposition on a pool table; laser-beaming a laser-beam spot from thelaser-beam generator to a desired impact spot on a pool ball on the pooltable; the desired impact spot on the pool ball being situated to causethe pool ball to travel to a pool-table target; and impacting a cue ballthat is impelled from a cue-ball position on the pool table by a cuewith which the cue ball is struck by a pool player for causing the poolball to travel to the pool-table target.
 2. The method of claim 1 andfurther comprising: ascertaining the desired impact spot on the poolball from experience in impacting the cue ball that is impelled from thecue-ball position on the pool table by the cue with which the cue ballis struck by the pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to thepool-table target.
 3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:ascertaining the desired impact spot on the pool ball from vectoranalysis and mathematical calculation for impacting the cue ball that isimpelled from the cue-ball position on the pool table by the cue withwhich the cue ball is struck by the pool player for causing the poolball to travel to the pool-table target.
 4. The method of claim 1 andfurther comprising: computer-programming ascertainment of the desiredspot on the pool ball; transmitting the ascertainment of the desiredspot on the pool ball to a computerized controller on the laser-beamgenerator; and directing the laser-beaming of the laser-beam spot fromthe laser-beam generator to the desired impact spot on the pool ballwith the computerized controller.
 5. The method of claim 1 and furthercomprising: practicing impacting the cue ball that is impelled from thecue-ball position on the pool table by the cue with which the cue ballis struck by the pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to thepool-table target.
 6. A laser beam pool ball teaching method comprisingthe following steps: ascertaining the desired impact spot on the poolball from experience in impacting the cue ball that is impelled from thecue-ball position on the pool table by the cue with which the cue ballis struck by the pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to thepool-table target; the desired impact spot on the pool ball beingsituated to cause the pool ball to travel to the pool-table target;placing the laser-beam generator at the spot-siting position on the pooltable; laser-beaming the laser-beam spot from the laser-beam generatorto the desired impact spot on the pool ball on the pool table; andimpacting a cue ball that is impelled from a cue-ball position on thepool table by a cue with which the cue ball is struck by a pool playerfor causing the pool ball to travel to the pool-table target.
 7. Themethod of claim 6 and further comprising: practicing impacting the cueball that is impelled from the cue-ball position on the pool table bythe cue with which the cue ball is struck by the pool player for causingthe pool ball to travel to the pool-table target.
 8. The method of claim6 and further comprising: computer-programming ascertainment of thedesired spot on the pool ball; transmitting the ascertainment of thedesired spot on the pool ball to a computerized controller on thelaser-beam generator; and directing the laser-beaming of the laser-beamspot from the laser-beam generator to the desired impact spot on thepool ball with the computerized controller.
 9. The method of claim 8 andfurther comprising: practicing impacting the cue ball that is impelledfrom the cue-ball position on the pool table by the cue with which thecue ball is struck by the pool player for causing the pool ball totravel to the pool-table target.
 10. A laser beam pool ball teachingmethod comprising the following steps: ascertaining the desired impactspot on the pool ball from vector analysis and mathematical calculationfor impacting the cue ball that is impelled from the cue-ball positionon the pool table by the cue with which the cue ball is struck by thepool player for causing the pool ball to travel to the pool-tabletarget; the desired impact spot on the pool ball being situated to causethe pool ball to travel to the pool-table target; placing the laser-beamgenerator at the spot-siting position on the pool table; laser-beamingthe laser-beam spot from the laser-beam generator to the desired impactspot on the pool ball on the pool table; and impacting a cue ball thatis impelled from a cue-ball position on the pool table by a cue withwhich the cue ball is struck by a pool player for causing the pool ballto travel to the pool-table target.
 11. The method of claim 10 andfurther comprising: practicing impacting the cue ball that is impelledfrom the cue-ball position on the pool table by the cue with which thecue ball is struck by the pool player for causing the pool ball totravel to the pool-table target.
 12. The method of claim 10 and furthercomprising: computer-programming ascertainment of the desired spot onthe pool ball; transmitting the ascertainment of the desired spot on thepool ball to a computerized controller on the laser-beam generator; anddirecting the laser-beaming of the laser-beam spot from the laser-beamgenerator to the desired impact spot on the pool ball with thecomputerized controller.
 13. The method of claim 12 and furthercomprising: practicing impacting the cue ball that is impelled from thecue-ball position on the pool table by the cue with which the cue ballis struck by the pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to thepool-table target.